Impedance bridge



July 6, 1948.v w. H.' Glu.: :TAL

' n rnnlmcn samen 'Original Filcd Aug. 28, 1941 Patented Julys, i948 UNITED STATES PATENT oI-Flclay 2,444,733 LMPEDANCE BRIDGE Willis H. Gille, St. Paul, and John V. Sigford,

Minneapolis, Minn., assignors to Minneapolis- Honeywell Regulator Company, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Original application August 28, 1941, Serial No. 408,594. Divided and this application October 27, 1944, Serial No. 560,662

Claims. (Cl. 323-75) This-application is a division of our copending circuit. Unless some means is provided to com-'g pensate for the resistance of the leadsextending to such remotely located condition responsive elements, changes inthe resistance of these elements will affect the balance of the bridge so as to result in inaccurate operation thereof. It has accordingly been customary to provide an additional lead to such a remotely located condition responsive element to compensate for any change in resistance of the leads. By locating this additional lead in an adjacent arm of the bridge, any change in resistance of the leads will equally affect two adjacent arms of the bridge and hence will have no effect upon the balance of the bridge. No satisfactory means has, however, been provided for compensating for changes in lead resistance in a -bridge in which there are two condition responsive impedance elements located remotely from the bridge and from each other, but

in one arm of the bridge.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an impedance bridge including two condition responsive impedance elements in a single arm thereof and which are located remotely from each other as well as from the other elements of the bridge, in which means are provided for compensating the bridge for changes in the resistance of the leads connected to the remote elements. -A

This is accomplished by providing a lead extending between each terminal of each of the condition responsive impedances and the location of the other parts of the bridge, a lead extending between the bridge input circuit and one terminal of one of said impedances and a lead extending between the bridge output circuit and the opposite terminal of the other of said impedances.

For a further understanding of our invention, reference is made to the accompanying claims,

specification, anddrawing, in the single ligure of which there is shown our improved impedance bridge employed in a temperature control system.

c:sis

2 The problem of a number of remotely located 'condition responsive impedances in an impedance bridge often arises in connection with a temperatureV control system employing temperature responsive resistance elements responsive to various temperature conditions. We have accordingly.

shown our improved impedance bridge applied to such a temperature control system.

In the drawing The drawing shows a space I0 heated by a radiator Heating uid, which may be, for

example, steam or hot water, is supplied to the radiator I through a, pipe I2 and exhausted fluid is drawn off from the radiator Il through a return line I3. The fluid isheated by a furnace I4 provided with a burner I5, to which fluid fuel is supplied through a pipe I 6.

This supply of fue1 through the pipe I6 is controlled by a. valve 20 whose position is modulated between open and closed positions by an operating mechanism 2|. The mechanism 2| includes a reversible motor 22 of the split-phase type having a pair of field windings 23 and 24. Winding 24 is energized constantly through suitable connections with a secondary winding 25 of a transformer 26. Energization of winding 22 is controlled by an amplifier schematically indicated at 2l. Suitable .phase shifting means may be connected in series with one of the windings 23 or 24. In the system shown a condenser 28 is connected in series with winding 24.

The amplifier 21 may be of any suitable type in which the output voltage always has a deiinite phase relation to that of the input voltage. Such ampliers are well known in the prior art. An amplifier which maintains a particularly close phase relationship between the input and output despite variations in the load placed on the amplier is that shown in the copending application of Albert P. Upton, Serial No. 461,955, illed Coto-- ber 14, 1942.

Transformer 26 is provided with a primary winding 30 connected to power supply lines 3| and 32. In addition to the secondary winding 25, the transformer 2B also has secondary windings 33 and 34. Also connected to the supply lines 3| and 32 is a transformer primary winding 35. Primary winding 35 is a part of a transformer 36 having a secondary winding 31 which supplies a bridge circuit generally indicated at 40.

Bridge circuit 40 has input terminals 4| and 42 and output terminals 43 and 44. Output terminal 44 is the point of contact 01 a slider 45 with a slide wire resistance 46. 7Slider 45 is moved along the slide wire 46 by the motor 22 as it operates the valve 20.

Transformer secondary winding 31 is connected to bridge input terminals 4I and 42 by conductors 50 and 5l, respectively, thereby forming with said conductors 50 and 5I, the input circuit of the bridge 40.

The upper left-hand arm of the bridge circuit 40 connects input terminal 4I with output terminal 43, the latter being located remotely from the bridge circuit 40. This upper left arm includes a fixed resistance 52, a variable resistance 53, and a long conductor 54 connecting variable resistance 53 with a remotely located terminal 43. The function of variable resistance 53 is to adjust the setting of the bridge. That is, by varying the amount oi resistance in the upper left arm of the bridge, the resistance necessary in the other arms of the bridge in order to produce a balanced condition is also changed.

The upper right arm of the bridge 40 connects output terminal 43 with input terminal 42 and includes three temperature responsive resistance elements 55, 56, and 51. This arm of the bridge circuit may be traced from terminal 43 through resistance element 55, a conductor 58, resistance element 56, a conductor 6D, resistance element 51, and a conductor 6| to input terminal 42.

The temperature responsive resistance element 55 is located outside the building containing the space IU. The function of resistance element 55 is to cause an unbalance of the bridge circuit 40 in accordance with outside Weather conditions affecting the operation of the temperature control system. The resistance element 55 may be formed of :nickel or some other substance having an appreciable temperature coeflicicnt of resistance, so that its resistance varies directly as the outside temperature.

We have found that by enclosing the resistance element 55 in some substance having a comparatively dark surface, its resistance may be made respon-sive to radiant energy conditions. For example, in bright sunlight, the dark surface will absorb radiant energy from the sun and cause an increase in the temperature of any elements enclosed within the dark surface. Since the presence of bright sunlight outside decreases the amount of heat which the furnace I4 must supply to the space I0, it is desirable that the operation of the control system be corrected in accordance with the outside radiant heat condition. We have found that by wrapping our outside temperature responsive element in kraft paper of a suitable shade, suitable radiant heat absorptive characteristics are imparted to the element.

It is also desirable that the resistance element 55 be made responsive to wind velocity, as the amount of heat required from the furnace 13 will be greater when a high wind is present outside the building than when the air is comparatively still. We have made the resistance element 55 responsive to wind velocity by heating it articially. When a high wind is blowing, a large proportion of this artificial heat is carried away from the resistance element 55, thereby decreasing its temperature below normal. The element 5, therefore, reacts to the presence of a high wind in the same manner that it does to a decrease in temperature.

Instead of heating the resistance element 55 externally to make it respond to wind velocity, we find it more convenient to supply heat by means of an auxiliary bridge circuit 62, having input terminals 63 and 64 connected to the terminals is the mid-point of resistance element 55.

of transformer secondary winding 34 by conductors 10 and 1|, respectively. Input terminal 63 The two ends of element 55 form two of the arms of the auxiliary bridge circuit B2. The other two arms of bridge circuit 62 are formed by a pair'of coils 66 and 61 oppositely wound on a common core 68. One terminal of each of the coils 66 and 61 is connected to the input terminal 64 of auxiliary bridge circuit 62. The opposite terminals of coils 66 and 61 are connected to terminals 43 and 65 of temperatur-e responsive element 55. Current flowing in the auxiliary bridge circuit 62 passes through windings 66 and 61 in opposite directions. Since these coils are oppositely wound, the magnetic fluxes produced ln the core 68 by the current flowing in the coils 66 and 61 are in the same direction. The coils 66 and 61 therefore offer relatively little impedance to the flow of current in the bridge circuit 62.

The coils 66 and B1 are, however, connected in series with respect to any current flowing in the bridge circuit 4U. Since the coils 66 and 61 are ywound in opposite directions, any current passing through the two coils in series produces in one coil a magnetic flux which reacts on the other coil to oppose the flow of this same current. It is therefore apparent that the coils 66 and 61 present a substantially infinite impedance to the flow of current from the bridge circuit 40.

it should also be apparent that current from the bridge 62 cannot flow in the bridge 40 as the bridge 62 is always balanced, and as far as the bridge 62 is concerned terminals 43 and 65 are at lthe same potential. The bridge 62 is always balanced because the coils 66 and 61 are of constant impedance and because any variation in the resistance of element 55 is automatically balanced since half of this resistance is in each of the two adjacent arms of the bridge.

To summarize, the operation of the temperature responsive element 55, it may be stated that any outside Weather condition which tends to cause an increase in the heat loss from the space i5, also tends to cause a decrease in the resistance of element 55. Such conditions may be a drop in outside temperature, a decrease in the outside radiant heat, or an increase in wind velocity.

The function of temperature responsive element 56 is to introduce an unbalancing effect into the bridge circuit 40 in accordance with changes in, temperature within the space l0. Such changes in temperature within the space I0 indicates the necessity of increasing or decreasing the amount of heat supplied to the space by the furnace I4.

The function of the temperature responsive resistance element 51 is to introduce an unbalance into the bridge circuit 40 in. accordance with the temperature of the heating fluid at the output of the furnace I4. This iiuid in the furnace I4 will be delivered to the space I0, and a change in its temperature is reflected in the change in resistance of element 51 so that the delivery of the heated iluid to the space I0 is anticipated by the system.

The lower left arm of bridge circuit 40 connects input terminal 4| with output terminal 44 and includes a conductor 12, a xed resistance 13, a conductor 14, and that part of slide wire resistance 46 between its left-hand terminal and the point of contact 44 of the slider 45.

The lower right-hand arm of bridge circuit 40 connects output terminal 44 with input terminal 42 and includes that part of slide Wire resistance 45 between slider 45 and the by locating one .main part of right-hand terminal of resistance 48, -a conductor 15, a nxed resistance 16, and a conductor 11.

A fundamental characteristic of bridge circuit is that, during balanced conditions, the product er the resistances of any two opposite arms of the bridge is equal to the product of the resistances of the other two opposite arms of the bridge. It is customary, when using a bridge circuit tol measure the resistance of an element located remotely from the other part of the bridge, to compensate the bridge circuit so that the balance will not conductors connecting the remote element with the bridge. This is conventionally done by so remote element that the two conductors connecting it with the bridge are in dif- In this way,

ferent adjacent arms of the bridge. each of the two pairs of opposite arms contain one of the long conductors. Since these conductors lie physically close to each other practically throughout their length, any change in the ambient temperature of the medium through which they pass affects both arms of the bridgeequally and therefore produces no unbalancing eiect. Such a connection is conventionally accomplished circuit at a point near the remote element, as for example, the terminal 43 of the drawing. Because of the location of output terminal 43 at this point the conductor 54 is in the upper left arm of the bridge circuit while the conductor 58 is in the upper right arm of the bridge circuit.

It has net previously been realized, however, that complete compensation for the lead resistance could be secured when two remotely located resistance elements werev connected in the same arm of the bridge circuit. We have shown such a circuit in the drawing in which both resistance elements 55 and 51 are located remotely from the main part of the bridge circuit 40. The manner in which leads 54 and 58 compensate the bridge circuit for each others resistance has been explained above. With regard to resistance element 51, the lead 11 is in the lower right arm of the bridge circuit while the conductor 50 is in the upper right arm of the bridge circuit. Therefore, the resistance of each oi these conductors opposes the' effect of the other on of the bridge circuit.

This method of compensating for the lead conductors of two remotely located resistance eleof the bridge was not previously discovered because it is not obvious that the opposite terminal `of the remotely located resistance element must be connected to a conductor which extends back to the location of the the bridge circuit. By opposite terminal of the remotely located element is meant a terminal such as 65 in the opposite to terminal 43, as far as the resistance element 55 is concerned. ln other words, the necessity of using the conductors 58 and 60 was not previously realized. As far as the applicants system is concerned, temperature responsive resistance element 5B could be located in the lower left arm of the bridge circuit 48 aswell as in the upper right. Regardless of the particular arm in which the resistance element 5B is connected, the conductors 58 and 60, extending physically parallel to the conductors 54 and 11, respectively, between the respective remote resistance elements 55 and 51 and the main part of the bridge circuit, are necessary in order to compensate the bridge circuit for the resistance of the lead.

of the terminals of the bridgel the unbalance drawing, which is outdoor element 55, such In bridge circuits of theV prior art. whenever two remote resistances were used in a single bridge arm, it was customary-to connect the two remote elements directly together. A comparable result would be obtained by connecting our terminal 65 with the right-hand terminal or resistance 51 directly. It should be apparent that such a connection destroys any possibility of `com pensating the bridge circuit for the lead .resistances by the method outlined above.

" l Operation When the drawing, the bridge circuit is balanced. and the furnace I4 is supplying an amount oi heat to the space l0 which is just sufiieient to balance the heat losses, thereby maintaining the space at the temperature which the system has been set to maintain by adjustment of the variable resistance 53.

Let it now be assumed that there is a decrease in resistance of one of the three temperature sensitive elements 55, 56, or 51. With regard to a decrease in resistance indicates the existence of a condition which will cause an increased heat loss from the space l0. In the case of resistance element 56, such a decrease indicates the presence of such an increased heat loss. On the other hand, such a decrease in the resistance of element 51 indicates that the amount of heat supplied to the space l0 is about to be decreased. In any event, al decrease in resistance of any one of these three elements indicates that the amount of fuel supplied to the burner l5 should be increased 'if the temperature of the space l0 is to be maintained at its predetermined value.

For convenience in describing the operation oi the system, the instantaneous polarity o! the source oi electrical energy will be assumed to be that indicated by the legend in the drawings. In that case, any decrease in resistance of the upper right-hand arm of bridge circuit 4U causes minal 44.

the potential of output terminal 43 to become more negative than the potential of output ter- Thls change in potential of output terminal 43 causes a current to flow in the bridge output circuit in a direction from terminal 44 through slider 45, a conductor 8i), amplifier input terminal 84, the input circuit of amplifier 21, amplier input terminal 85, and a conductor 8| to output terminal 43.

Power is supplied to ampliiier 21 from transformer secondary winding 33 through conductors 82 and 83. The current flowing in the input circuit of amplifier 21 produces a greatly arnplined current in its output circuit. The amplifier output current energizes winding 23 of motor 22, flowing through a circuit which may be traced from output terminal 86 of amplier 21 through conductors 90 and 9|, winding 23 and a conductor 92 to output iler 21.

Winding 24 of motor 22 is constantly energized through a circuit which may be traced from the upper terminal of transformer secondary winding 25 through a conductor 93, conductor 9|. winding 24, a conductor 94, condenser 28, and a conductor 95 to the lower terminal of transformer secondary winding 25. Conductor 9i, which is connected to the common terminal of windings 23 and 24, is grounded, as at 96.

Since the winding 24 is directly connected t transformer secondary winding 25, the time phase of current owing through the winding 24 .is

the parts are irthe position shown in y terminal 81 of amplixed with respect to the time phase of the powindlng 24 leads the supply potential by approximately 90 electrical degrees. of the current between terminals 43 and Il.

During the conditions at The current in phase from the with the supply line voltage. winding 22 therefore dlilers in supply current by 180 degrees, while the current in winding 24 leads the supply potential by only 90 degrees. This diil'erence in phase of the current in windings motor 22 to be driven in vsuch a direction as to open the valve 20 wider. It may therefore be seen that an unbalance of crease the supply of fuel to As motor 22 drives the valve 20 in opening direction, it also moves slider slide wire 46. This motion The current in winding 23 is therefore in phase with the supply potential. As the current in winding 24 is leading the supply potential in phasel causes split-phase` phase by electrical degrees, the motor 22 will operate `in a. direction opposite to comes to rest.

It should be art that the condenser 28, or

unction of two of said arms and the junction oi' the opposite two arms. an amplifier connected between the junctions of said arms adjacent to those just named, one of said arms oi said bridge comprising a pair of impedances, said impedances being located at diierent points remote from the other parts of said bridge circuit, and means for compensating the arms of the bridge adjacent said one arm for the change in resistance of the leads connecting said remote ini-n pedances with said bridge, said last-named comprising a. lead extending between each terminal of each of said impedances and the location oi said other parts of said bridge, a lead extending between one terminal of said source nf power and one terminal of one of said impedances, and a lead extending between one terminal of said amplifier and the opposite terminal of the other impedance.

5. In combination, an impedance bridge, two impedances located remote from each other and from said bridge, a connection between said im pedances comprising a pair of conductors, each attached to one terminal of each oi' said impedances and connected to each other at said bridge, said impedances and said conductors being included in one arm of said bridge, and means for compensating the adjacent arms of said bridge for the resistance of said conductors, said compensating means comprising conductors in each of said adjacent arms, said last-mentioned conductors being connected to the terininais of said impedances opposite the terminals to which said first-mentioned conductors are connested.

WILLIS H. GILLE.

JOHN V. SIGFORD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

Electrical Measurements by Laws, 1st edition, 193.7; pp. 226 and 227. 

